IN THE NEWS

TOUR OF THE MONTH

ON THIS DAY IN LONDON

14th August 1967 Pirate radio stations Radio 270, Radio London, Radio Ireland

14th August 1948 The first Summer Olympics to be held since 1936, were closed in London.

14th August 1941 Josef Jakobs, German spy, executed in Tower of London

14th August 1903 Born today: Ronald Stewart, CEO (London Brick Co)

14th August 1867 Forsyte Saga author John Galsworthy was born in Kingston Upon Thames.

14th August 1802 Poet and novelist Letitia Elizabeth Landon (LEL) was born in Chelsea, London.

Salvador Dali in his Diving Suit

The scene of Salvador Dali's greatest London adventure!

Location: 5 Burlington Gardens, Piccadilly

Description: In the early 20th century this corner of Burlington Gardens housed a grand art gallery called New Burlington Galleries.

It became famous for many classic shows but one in particular stood out. It was 1936 and June 11 when the International Surrealist Exhibition opened. It was a great success with over 40,000 visitors attending.

The eccentric Spanish painter Salvador Dali appeared here on stage wearing a full diving suit. It was supposed to illustrate his thesis concerning art's function of revealing the depths of the subconscious.

At one stage he appeared to be suffocating - and a panting Dali was hastily freed of his suit and helmet by the young poet, David Gascoyne and his spanner! The audience loved it supposing it was all a well-rehearsed act. It went down a storm.